UN Alliance of Civilizations

Report of the High-Level Group

13 November 2006

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GENDER

IV. THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

4.15 "Many of these practices relate directly to the status of women. In some Muslim societies, ill-informed religious figures, in some cases allied with unenlightened conservative political regimes, have succeeded in greatly restricting women's access to public and professional life, thereby hampering their prospects and potential for self-fulfillment. The effect on those women, on society at large, and on future generations, has been to inhibit economic and social development as well as democratic pluralism. This problem can only be overcome through laws that ensure full gender equality in accordance with internationally-agreed human rights standards. Such measures are most likely to succeed if supported by religious education that is based upon a sound interpretation of religious teachings. It must be noted, however, that in many parts of the world, including Western countries, much progress is still needed with regard to the status of women.

VI MAIN FIELDS OF ACTION

6.9 Education and Development: Access to education still eludes a large number of young people and women, particularly in developing nations. In those countries where poverty forces parents to make choices between their children, girls are often the first to be pulled out of school. Efforts to expand access to education at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels must continue to build upon the Millennium Development Goals, utilizing innovative distance learning as well as traditional means of expanding educational opportunities.

VII RECOMMENDATIONS

6. Public and private donor agencies should support girls' and young women's associations, networks, and organizations which advance girls' eduction, develop platforms for women's participation in all aspects of society, or implement other projects which enhance women's status.

In many parts of the world, progress towards gender equality remains painfully slow. Seventy percent of the 130 million children who are out of school are girls. Women account for two thirds of the 960 million adults in the world who cannot read and of the world's one billion poorest people, three fifths are women and girls. Initiatives at local, regional and national levels can help redress the balance. In particular, supporting civil society organizations that aim to provide better learning opportunities, greater job prospects and improved living conditions to women can go a long way to address these injustices.

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THE UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILZATIONS

WUNRN asks, as in the spirit of Gender Equality, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325:

*Is GENDER included a significant component in this inititiative to build a bridge between the Islamic & Western Worlds?

*How will women's and girls voices be heard more, respected, included more prominently in this dialogue process for greater understanding, tolerance, peace among peoples of this world?

*Are WOMEN, as half the world's population, given parity presence in leadership of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations?

*Will multisector, grass roots as well as high profile, presence and participation of both women and men, be represented in this program to build discourse, to address comprehensive and accurate information from all parties, and to look for continued areas of understanding and agreement, and honorable ways to consider differences?

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Alliance of Civilizations

Report of the High-Level Group

13 November 2006

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Alliance of Civilizations - THE REPORT

To advance the Alliance of Civilizations, the UN Secretary-General established a High-level Group of eminent personalities and tasked this Group with generating a report containing an analysis of the rise in cross-cultural polarization and extremism and a set of practical recommendations to counter this phenomenon. The High-level Group met five times from November 2005 to November 2006, at the conclusion of which it produced a report which takes a multi-polar approach within which it prioritizes relations between Muslim and Western societies.

The report is structured in two parts: Part I presents an analysis of the global context and of the state of relations between Muslim and Western societies. It concludes with a set of policy recommendations, indicating the High-level Group's belief that certain political steps are pre-requisites to any substantial and lasting improvement in relations between Muslim and Western societies. Part II of the report reflects the High-level Group's view that tensions across cultures have spread beyond the political level into the hearts and minds of populations. To counter this trend, the Group analyzes and presents recommendations in each of four thematic areas: Education, Youth, Migration, and Media. The Report concludes with the High-level Group's suggestions for the implementation of its recommendations.

The Report of the High-level Group was presented to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and to Prime Ministers José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 13 November 2006 at the final meeting of the High-level Group in Istanbul, Turkey.